Tributes after former Hyndburn mayor ‘Ted’ dies at 91

FORMER Hyndburn mayor and Oswaldtwistle councillor, Edward Francis Hill, has died at the age of 91.

Known affectionately as Ted, Mr Hill was a Conservative member of Hyndburn Council for 21 years, until 1995. He represented the for-mer Oswaldtwistle Foxhill Bank and St Oswald’s ward from 1974 until 1979, before taking on St Oswald’s ward until 1995.

Mr Hill was mayor in 1985/86, and became a Freeman of the Borough in 2000, and Honorary Alder-man in 2002.

Oswaldtwistle councillor Peter Britcliffe said Mr Hill was a friend of his late father. He said: “He was a lifelong family friend, and a coun- cillor for many years.

“He was a mayor who did a great job, and for those services he was rewarded with the Freedom of the Borough. Hyndburn Conservative group is very saddened to hear of his passing.”

Hyndburn Mayor, Coun Judith Addison, said: “Anyone who has been a councillor for 21 years has been prepared to dedicate a big part of their life to serving the public. It will be an honour to pay my respects.”

Mr Hill, of Mount St James, Knuz- den, served in Europe as a radar operator for the RAF during the Second World War. After leaving the forces, he trained as a painter and decorator, working for a Black- burn company before he left to work for himself, a job he continued until his retirement. His hobbies included ballroom dancing, which he enjoyed with his late wife Margaret, cooking, swim-ming, travelling, and play- ing the organ at St Ter-esa’s Church, in Intack.

Mr Hill would often visit his brother, a Fran-ciscan monk, in South Africa, where he helped a local church build a shelter from the sun, and an altar.

Mr Hill, who was marr-ied a second time to the late Kathleen, who was mayoress, was a father-of-five, grandfather-of-eight, and great-grand father of six. He died on Sunday.

A funeral service will be held at 10am, at St Mary’s RC Church, in Catlow Hall Street, Osw-aldtwistle, on Monday. Donations have been requested to Leukaemia Research, c/o Hyndburn Funeral Services, Queens Road, Accrington. For any inquiries, call the funeral services on 01254 917062.